Key-ring



' V. DAVIS.

KEY RING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-26,1919.

1,348,495. Patented June 15, 1920.

INVENTOR fry/0A9 par/ls ATTO EY UNITED VIRfiINIA pants, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

Ker-ante.

Specificatiqnof Letters Patent. Patgnt q J e 1,57 1920 Application fi led March 26,1919. Serial No. 285,311.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that I, VIRGINIA Darts, a citizen of the United Statesflesiding in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Key-Rings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in key rings of the type wherein a plurality of keys may be carried on a lnai'n ring with which main ring is associated a supplementary, ring for holding a single key usually a night key or an otiice key which it is desired to have accessible.

Key rings of this general character have been heretofore known, an example of which is the key ring disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 256,1(3l, filed Sept. 8U, 1918. In this prior ring the structure is made from a single piece of wire formed into two loops both of which lie in the same plane and one of which loops is of the split ring variety to allow of the positioning of a key on the ring. With a ring of this type the maintaining of the halves of the split ring in face abutting relation is depending entirely upon the circumferential resiliency of the loops and it is found in practice that if the ring is strained through the positioning of a particularly heavy key thereon the parts of the split ring are no longer held in. face abutting relation for the reason that the tension or resiliency of the ring, which ordinarily accomplishes this result is lost.

The ohject of the present invention is to provide a key ring wherein the maintaining of the portions of the split ring in face abutting relation is depending upon the radial resiliency of the ring whereby said ring may not he so readily strained as in rings of the other character.

In carrying out the presentinvention the key ring is made from a single piece of wire which is formed into two loops one of which lies in a plane preferably perpendicular to the plane of the other. One of the rings is a split ring and the other is plain, the plain ring serving to maintain the parts of the split ring in face abutting relation.

.Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have illustrated one practical form of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative only and not as defining the limits of-the invention.

Referring to the drawing, 7

F gure l is a perspective View of the inventi'on, showing a plurality ofkeys mounted on the main ring-and a single key secured to the supplemental ring;

2 isa face View ofthe key ring.

hlg. 3u1san edge View thereof; and

Fig.

a. key on thering.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates the main ring and 2 the supplemental ring. The material from which the device is constructed is preferably of round wire the ends of which are flattened and brought into face abutting relation at 3 to form the supplemental ring 2 as a split ring. It will he noted from the drawings that the main and supplemental rings are connected by a shank 4 and lie in planes perpendicular to one another so that the plane of parting of the split ring or supplemental ring 3 is in a plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the main ring 1.

The advantage of this construction is that the radial resiliency of the ring 1 serves to hold the loop port-ions of the supplemental ring in face abutting relation as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but if it is desired to place a key on the ring said ring may he manipulated as shown in Fig. d to overcome the radial resiliency of the main ring for the purpose of forcing the abutting faces of the supplemental ring free from engagement with one another so that a key 5 may be readily positioned on the supplemental ring as shown. As soon as the main ring is released by the fingers the parts will iinmediately resume the form of 2 and the key cannot possibly become disengaged. if it is desired to more the key 5 to position on the main ring 1, this may be readily tlCi'Olll plished by causing the key to pass bean/eon the members of the shank :'l and into the position 5 of Fig. 1.

In the commercial form of the invention the rings 1 or 2 may be either circular in form or elongateo as desired. ln either instance the operation remains the same and all the benefits inherent in the employ nent of radial resiliency of the main rin to maintain the parts of the supplemental ring in engagement results. it is moreover. found in practire that when the main and supplemental rings are in different planes as 4- shows the manner of positioning shown, a ring of keys will stow to much better advantage in a pocket than if both rings lie in the same plane.

It will be understood that slight, or formal changes may be made in the specific structure herein described without departing from the spirit or substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the amended claims.

It will be understood that any adaptable material may be used in the construction of the key ring and that the wire employed may be of any customary cross section. Thus if the flat material is employed the device readily lends itself to advertising purposes.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

ring formed from a continuous piece of wire and embodying a main ring having ends or leads extending therefrom and returned upon themselves to form a supplemental ring positioned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the main ring, said supplemental rin being provided with a'slit or opening w ereby a key may be inserted through the slit and secured to the ring.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a key ring formed from a continuous piece of wire and embodying two loops positioned in planes substantially perpendicular to one another, oneof which loops is provided with a slit or opening whereby a key may be inierted through the slit and secured to the oop.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

VIRGINIA DAVIS. 

